Is Gemma’s Fate Revealed in Severance Season 2 Episode 7?

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In the meticulous world of Severance, every tiny detail matters. The title of the upcoming Season 2 Episode 7, ‘Chikhai Bardo’, might be subtly revealing something significant, fueling speculation about Mark’s wife, Gemma.

One intriguing enigma in the series Severance centers around the fate of Gemma, also known as Ms. Casey. The main character, Mark, began his employment at Lumon solely due to events following her passing, expressing that each day without her is equivalent to a year.

In Season 2 of the Apple TV+ show, both Mark’s Inner and Outer selves are aware that Gemma is still alive. While only his Lumon persona understands she is actually Ms. Casey, he is currently attempting to find a way to reach her in the Exports Department.

A curious question remains: Why does she have such a deep connection to Cold Harbor? Though Gemma has taken a back seat in the recent episodes of Severance Season 2, there’s a strong possibility that she could be pivotal in Episode 7, hinted by its title.

Severance Season 2 Episode 7 title is Buddhist “moment of death”

According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, ‘Chikhai Bardo’ is one of six states linked to life’s stages and death. This term signifies a transitional phase that takes place at the point of death, when an individual encounters the unclouded state of their mind before they are reborn or achieve liberation.

The link to Severance could imply that Gemma has a liminal existence, which means she’s stuck between two worlds – life and death, or perhaps two identities. In Season 2 Episode 7, we might discover how Gemma transformed into Ms. Casey, or the episode may depict her progression as she reenters the Severed floor as a changed person.

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For clarity, here are the six bardos, as depicted in Tibetan Buddhism: 

  • First bardo (Shinay) – “the bardo of this life” is the waking state, representing ordinary consciousness during life
  • Second bardo (Milam) – “the bardo of dreaming” is the state of dreams, where the mind creates its own reality
  • Third bardo (Samten) – “the bardo of meditation” is the state reached through deep meditation, where one can experience profound awareness
  • Fourth bardo (Chikhai) – “the bardo of the moment of death” is the transition at death, where the individual’s acceptance or denial can influence their journey through the next bardos
  • Fifth bardo (Chonyid) – “the bardo of visions” is a stage after death where one experiences various visions, which leads to enlightenment or unconsciousness, depending on their training
  • Sixth bardo (Sidpai) – “the bardo of becoming” is the transition toward rebirth, where karmic forces determine the next life

In a post on the show’s subreddit, someone mentioned that the title of the next episode is ‘Chikhai Bardo’, which is a Buddhist term for one of six intermediary states. This particular state is the first associated with death and occurs immediately after physical demise: when the consciousness departs from the body.

In a moment of clarity, I either grasp the radiant truth that sets me free – attaining enlightenment, liberation, and breaking free from the wheel of reincarnation. Or, due to fear or attachment, I miss this opportunity and find myself traversing more stages of existence as death approaches.

Pondering on its possible implications, they commented, “This could suggest various possibilities within the context of this episode.

Mark is transitioning from his former lives as an individual Outie and Innie, and in a sense, his current identity is gradually fading away as he continues through reintegration. This process will lead to a new existence, where he’ll be reborn as the merged form of his two separate selves.

Additionally, it might symbolize Gemma’s present condition, where she appears lifeless to the external world, yet remains alive. Her state could be akin to being partially brain-dead. Regardless, it seems she exists in a limbo-like situation.

It’s intriguing how the title shares a connection with Gemma, particularly since actress Dichen Lachman, who plays her, is of Tibetan descent. A Redditor noted, “Indeed, I believe this story revolves around Gemma.

A third individual chimed in, “Typically, these titles encompass multiple characters. I have a feeling we’re in for a surprising revelation about how Gemma ended up under Lumon’s control. It seems likely that either she was forced to become a test subject at Lumon or she is secretly working with the test wing herself.

Discover when Episode 7 will be available through our guide on the Severance Season 2 launch timeline. If you need a reminder of what happened earlier, we’ve provided recaps for Episodes 1 to 6.

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2025-02-24 18:49